Natsuko Oshima is a Japanese stamp artist and illustrator based in Tokyo.

She has made stamp-making her life’s work. In addition to illustration projects such as portraits and book artwork, she has participated in numerous exhibitions, workshops, and events both in Japan and internationally.

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Born in Kanagawa, she graduated from the Department of Visual Communication Design at Musashino Art University. After further developing her practice through fieldwork and illustration, she obtained a Master’s degree in Fine Arts. Her graduation project, Tokyo Salaryman Stamp, led to her first solo exhibition and marked the beginning of her career as an artist, including art book production and participation in events.

While continuing her artistic practice alongside a full-time job, she developed a strong interest in the melancholic presence of middle-aged men in urban environments. This led to the creation of her “Ojisan Stamp” series (Ojisan means “middle-aged man” in Japanese), which gained recognition and was featured in magazines, books, and TV drama opening sequences. She later became an independent illustrator. She refers to this period as her “Ojisan phase.”

After spending more time in France, encounters with diverse cultures and people led her to rediscover the unique qualities of Japanese identity. She now creates works featuring a wide range of people, regardless of nationality or gender. She refers to this period as her “People phase.”

Since 2023, following her participation in the large-scale paper event “Kamihaku” held in Tokyo, she has expanded her production of original goods. She continues to present her work at events both in Japan and abroad, and in May 2026, she will launch her online shop.

In recent years, she has worked with some of Japan’s leading publishers—including Bungeishunju, Shinchosha, Kodansha, Shogakukan, Diamond, Inc., and Nikkei Business Publications—as well as major media outlets such as TBS Radio and TV Tokyo.

Her recent projects include artwork for a London-based café, OZON COFFEE, visual work for the Japan Airlines pavilion at the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, and illustrations for a six-volume book series by the well-known Japanese economic analyst Takuro Morinaga.

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